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Rising Indian archer Vaishnavi Pawar, backed by the Punit Balan Group, has made a remarkable impact on the international stage. At the 2024 Asian Youth Archery Championship in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei, Vaishnavi played a pivotal role in the Indian team's silver medal triumph in the recurve U-18 women's team category.As the lead shooter for the three-member Indian team, which also included Pranjal Tholiya and Jannat, Vaishnavi displayed exceptional composure under pressure. In the semi-final, they faced the formidable South Korea and emerged victorious in a thrilling shoot-off.The Indian team faced a similar challenge in the gold medal match against the hosts. After trailing 2-4, they fought back to force a shoot-off, but ultimately settled for silver."Representing India alongside my teammates is an honor," said Vaishnavi. "Beating South Korea in the semi-finals was a significant achievement, and we are determined to continue improving. I am grateful for the support of the Punit Balan Group, which has been invaluable in my journey."Vaishnavi, who hails from Malkapur Village in Maharashtra, has been training in Pune. Her talent caught the attention of the Punit Balan Group, which extended financial assistance to support her training and competition expenses."Vaishnavi's performance in Chinese Taipei is a testament to her hard work and dedication," said Punit Balan, chairman and managing director of Punit Balan Group. "We are proud to support her and believe she has the potential to achieve great things in the future."In addition to her team success, Vaishnavi also reached the quarter-finals in the individual category. Her impressive performance at the Asian Youth Archery Championship has further solidified her status as a rising star in Indian archery.

Indian archery prodigy Bhajan Kaur continued her impressive run at the Paris Olympics, securing back-to-back victories in the women's individual event to reach the pre-quarterfinals. The 18-year-old from Haryana, who had showcased exceptional skills in the team event despite the team's loss, emerged victorious against Indonesia's Syifa Nurafifah Kamal and Poland's Wioleta Myszor in her opening two rounds.In her first round, Kaur faced Kamal, a formidable opponent from Indonesia. The match began with a tie in the first set, with both archers scoring a single point. However, Kaur's consistency shone through in the subsequent sets, as she fired three 9s compared to Kamal's one 9 and two 10s. Kaur's determination and focus allowed her to secure the second set, despite losing the first.Kaur's momentum continued in the third set, where she maintained her accuracy and precision. She went on to win the next two sets, showcasing her exceptional shooting skills. Having found her rhythm, Kaur avenged her compatriot Ankita Bhakat's defeat in the opening round by inflicting a 6-0 (28-23 29-26 28-22) defeat on Myszor in the next round.Kaur's impressive performance has earned her a spot in the round of 16, scheduled for Saturday. Her opponent for this crucial match is yet to be determined. The young archer's consistent shooting and unwavering determination have made her a force to be reckoned with in the women's individual event.

Indian Women's Archery Team Suffers Quarterfinal Heartbreak at Paris OlympicsThe Indian women's archery team's Olympic dreams were shattered on Sunday as they succumbed to a disappointing 0-6 defeat against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics. The trio of Ankita Bhakat, Bhajan Kaur, and Deepika Kumari failed to live up to expectations, delivering a lackluster performance that resulted in their elimination.In the first set, India lost 51-52, setting the tone for a challenging match. Ankita and Deepika struggled to find their rhythm, scoring below par. The second set proved equally disappointing, with India losing 49-54. The Dutch team, on the other hand, displayed remarkable consistency and precision, putting pressure on the Indian archers.The third and final set was a nail-biter, with both teams tied at 48-48. However, the Netherlands managed to pull ahead in the final arrows, securing a 53-48 victory and sealing India's fate.In archery, the highest score by a team in a set is awarded two set points, while a draw gets one set point each. India's inability to secure even a single set point highlighted their struggles throughout the match.The Indian team had entered the quarterfinals with high hopes after finishing fourth in the qualification round. However, their performance in the knockout stage fell well short of expectations. Ankita and Deepika, in particular, failed to deliver the kind of scores that were required to challenge the Dutch team.The defeat marks a disappointing end to India's archery campaign at the Paris Olympics. The team had hoped to build on their success at the previous Games, where they won a silver medal in the women's team event. However, their performance in Paris suggests that they need to reassess their strategies and training methods if they want to compete with the world's best.

Paris Olympics 2024: India's Day 2 Schedule and Medal HopesDay 2 of India's campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics promises to be action-packed, with several medal contenders taking center stage.Shooting: Manu Bhaker's Redemption QuestManu Bhaker, India's pistol shooting sensation, will be the focus of attention as she aims to secure the country's first medal at the Games. After a disappointing performance at the Tokyo Olympics, Bhaker is determined to make amends. She will compete in the women's 10m air pistol final, where she will face stiff competition from Hungarian ace Veronika Major.Badminton: Sindhu and Prannoy Begin CampaignsTwo-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu will kick off her women's singles campaign against FN Abdul Razzaq of Maldives. Sindhu, who was India's flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony, will be looking to add to her impressive medal tally. HS Prannoy will also begin his men's singles journey, facing Fabian Roth of Germany.Archery: Women's Team Targets SemifinalsThe Indian women's archery team, comprising Ankita Bhakat, Bhajan Kaur, and Deepika Kumari, will aim for a semifinal spot in the team event. They will face either France or the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.Other EventsElavenil Valarivan will compete in the women's 10m air rifle qualification, while Sandeep Singh and Arjun Babuta will represent India in the men's 10m air rifle qualification.In table tennis, Achanta Sharath Kamal, Manika Batra, and Sreeja Akula will open their respective singles campaigns.Balraj Panwar will participate in the men's single sculls repechage in rowing.Srihari Nataraj and Dhinidhi Desinghu will represent India in the men's 100m backstroke and women's 200m freestyle swimming events, respectively.In tennis, Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji will play in the men's doubles round 1, while Sumit Nagal will face Corentin Moutet of France in the men's singles round 1.

Indian archery has set its sights on ending a 36-year Olympic medal drought at the Tokyo Games, buoyed by its impressive performance in the ranking rounds. With a full six-member contingent competing in all five categories, India has a strong chance of multiple medals.The men's and women's teams, seeded straight to the quarterfinals, need two wins to secure a historic first Olympic medal. They will avoid archery powerhouse South Korea in the early rounds, but could face them in the semifinals.The women's team, led by Ankita Bhakat, Bhajan Kaur, and Deepika Kumari, will face the winners of France and the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. France, ranked fifth in the qualifiers, will be the favorites, but India has a slight edge in average arrow score.Deepika, a former world No. 1, has struggled in the ranking rounds but remains a key player. Her experience and ability to perform under pressure will be crucial.The men's team, featuring Games debutant Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, and Pravin Jadhav, is considered the most likely to win a medal. They upset South Korea in the Shanghai World Cup and are ranked third in the qualification round.Dhiraj, in particular, has been in red-hot form and will also be a contender in the individual rounds. He will look to overcome the disappointment of his Asian Games performance, where he botched up his release twice in the quarterfinals.In the mixed team event, India is seeded fifth and will face Indonesia in the opening round. They could potentially face China and South Korea in the later rounds.Overall, Indian archery has a strong chance of making history at the Tokyo Games. With a talented team and a favorable draw, they are poised to end their long wait for an Olympic medal.

India's archery contingent made a promising start at the Paris Olympics, with both the men's and women's teams securing quarterfinal berths in the recurve event.The women's trio of Ankita Bhakat, Bhajan Kaur, and Deepika Kumari impressed with a combined score of 666 points, placing fourth in the standings. Bhakat, a debutant at the Games, emerged as the top-ranked Indian archer, finishing 11th in the individual qualifications.In the men's team event, Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, and Pravin Ramesh Jadhav combined for a score of 2013 points, finishing third behind South Korea and France. Bommadevara, who made a remarkable comeback in the ranking round, finished fourth in the singles qualifying with a score of 681.South Korea's Lim Sihyeon set a new world record with a score of 694 in the individual competition, while her compatriot Suhyeon Nam finished second with 688 points. China's Yang Xiaolei secured the third position with 673 points.Despite her impressive team performance, Deepika Kumari, a four-time Olympian, had a disappointing outing in the individual qualifications, recording her worst-ever result at the Games. As a result, she missed out on the mixed team berth for the first time, with Ankita set to partner Bommadevara in the mixed team finals.The top four teams in both the men's and women's events earned direct entry into the quarterfinals, bypassing the Round of 16 fixtures. India's women's team will face either France or the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, while the men's team will face a yet-to-be-determined opponent.If successful in the quarterfinals, India could face a formidable challenge against the South Korean team, renowned for their dominance in Olympic archery. The Korean women's team has been particularly invincible, securing their ninth consecutive Olympic medal in Tokyo three years ago.

Dhiraj Bommadevara, a 22-year-old Indian archer, has made a remarkable impression at the Paris Olympics 2024, finishing fourth in the men's archery ranking round. His impressive performance propelled India to the quarterfinals of the team event.Hailing from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, Dhiraj's archery journey began in 2006 at the Volga Archery Academy. After four years of training at the Army Sports Institute in Pune, he joined the Indian Army in 2021.Ranked 15th in the world, Dhiraj secured his berth for the Paris Olympics in Bangkok. In the lead-up to the competition, he claimed a bronze medal at the World Cup 2024 in Antalya, Turkey.Dhiraj's achievements extend beyond the Paris Olympics. He was part of the Indian men's team that won a silver medal at the Asian Games 2023, alongside Atanu Das and Tushar Shelke. He also made his international debut in 2017 and won his first major title at the 2021 World Archer Youth Championships.In the women's archery ranking round, India's team secured a fourth-place finish, earning a spot in the quarterfinals. Ankita Bhakat finished 11th with a season-best score of 666, while Bhajan Kaur placed 22nd with 659 points. Deepika Kumari, a four-time Olympian, finished 23rd with 658 points.Dhiraj Bommadevara's performance at the Paris Olympics 2024 is a testament to his hard work and dedication. His achievements have not only brought glory to India but have also inspired aspiring archers across the country.

Indian Archers Aim to Shed the Weight of History at Tokyo OlympicsAs the Indian archery team prepares for the Tokyo Olympics, they are determined to break free from the "bhaar" (weight) that has burdened them in past Games.Coach Purnima Mahato acknowledges the challenges faced by the squad, including the absence of Korean chief coach Baek Woong Ki and psychologist Gayatri Madkekar. However, she remains optimistic, stating that the team has been working on improving their processes rather than focusing solely on medals.Tarundeep Rai, a four-time Olympian, believes that the team has matured and is better equipped to handle the pressure of the Games. He emphasizes the importance of qualifying with a good ranking in the ranking rounds, which will determine their seeding in the team and individual events.The men's team, ranked world No. 2, is aiming for a top-four finish in the ranking rounds to secure a direct spot in the quarter-finals. The trio of Rai, Dhiraj Bommadevara, and Pravin Jadhav has shown consistent results in recent competitions, including a gold medal at the Shanghai World Cup.The women's team, led by experienced Deepika Kumari, has more subdued expectations. Coach Mahato prefers a quieter approach, allowing the archers to focus on their performances without the added pressure of medal expectations.Rai acknowledges the team's past struggles at the Olympics, but believes that they have learned from their mistakes. He emphasizes the importance of staying focused on the present and not getting caught up in the weight of expectations.The team has been training in France for the past fortnight, acclimating to the conditions at the Esplanade des Invalides, where the archery competition will be held. They have had two practice sessions in the main competition arena, which differs slightly in design and wind resistance from the adjacent training venue.The addition of Dhiraj to the men's team has added solidity, and his growth and consistency have contributed to the team's success. Rai believes that the team's recent medals have boosted their self-belief and sent a message to other teams that India is a contender.However, he cautions against carrying the weight of expectations into the competition. The team's focus remains on delivering their best performances and not getting bogged down by the pressure of medals.

Tarundeep Rai, a seasoned Indian archer, is determined to make his fourth Olympic appearance in Paris a memorable one by securing his first Olympic medal. At 40 years old, Rai has an impressive track record, having won medals at every major global and continental championship, including two World Championship silver medals, nine World Cup medals, and three Asian Games medals.Despite his success, Rai has yet to achieve his Olympic dream. He exited in the first round of the individual event in Athens 2004, and in the second round in both London 2012 and Tokyo 2021. In Tokyo, the men's team, which included Rai, reached the quarterfinals."It's emotional every day," Rai said. "It's the fourth time. It's a now-or-never situation for me, and that's what I tell my teammates too. You have to put in an effort as if it's going to be your last."Rai is also serving as an unofficial mentor to the Indian team, sharing his vast experience and knowledge with his younger teammates. He believes that the team has the potential to win a medal in Paris, and he is determined to help them achieve their goal."We have kept that in control (this time)," Rai said. "Coaches, management, players' mentality, we have kept that in check. Everyone is in their best form."For the first time since London 2012, India will have a full six-member squad in Paris, after both the men's and women's teams qualified on the basis of rankings. This means they will compete in all five events.Rai's journey to the Olympics has not been without its challenges. He failed to make it to the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, which served as a wake-up call for him."Yes, the Asian Games was a realization period and gave me a lot of positive vibes," Rai said. "If that did not happen, maybe I would not have made it to my fourth Olympics and reached here."Despite the setbacks, Rai remains optimistic and is eager to make the most of his final Olympic opportunity. He has set up an academy in Sikkim to pass on his knowledge to the future generation of archers."Coaching or not, you have to give something back to the sport," Rai said. "This is one thing we have lacked. Transfer of technique, transfer of experience. Senior archers leaving should come back. This gap we have to fill up."